AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 15, 2026
Georgia O'Keeffe Artwork Discovered After Decades in Manhattan Apartment
A long-lost painting by renowned American artist Georgia O'Keeffe has been discovered in a closet in a Manhattan apartment, where it remained hidden for decades. The oil painting, an early depiction of the American Southwest, is now set to go up for auction at Christie’s with an estimated value between $3 million and $5 million.
Uncovering a Hidden Masterpiece
The artwork's existence remained largely unknown until the woman who owned it, well into her 90s, casually mentioned to her niece, "oh by the way, there’s a Georgia O’Keeffe in the closet." The painting had been tucked away behind coats and boxes in her East Village apartment, undisturbed for many years. The family, who has chosen to remain anonymous, recounted that the painting was stored after the owner observed a guest eying it too intently in the mid-1980s. She then put it back in its original packing crate and placed it in the closet, where it stayed until the apartment was cleared out following her recent death.
An Early O'Keeffe Southwest Landscape
Created in 1930, the painting is considered a significant early example of Georgia O'Keeffe’s fascination with the American Southwest. It depicts the rolling, earth-toned hills of Lobo Peak near Taos, New Mexico. According to Christie’s American Art director Tylee Abbott, the work marks the inception of O’Keeffe’s exploration of Southwestern landscapes, a theme central to her legacy.
The painting was believed to be the first in a series of three southwest landscapes by O’Keeffe. The second now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the third was part of the Rockefeller family collection. Until its recent rediscovery, the whereabouts of this first piece were largely a mystery and previously known only through a 1931 photograph.
The Painting’s Journey
The provenance of the artwork can be traced to a 1963 sale by a New York art gallery, where it was purchased for $3,800. The buyer gave it to her daughter, who later kept it in her East Village home. The family told Christie’s they believe the painting was a gift upon the daughter's completion of her master’s degree during the 1960s. Although the owner displayed the painting initially, her concerns about its safety led her to hide it away. The recently discovered piece was authenticated by the presence of O’Keeffe’s distinctive signature: a star with her initials “OK.”
Georgia O'Keeffe’s Lasting Influence
Georgia O’Keeffe, who died in 1986 at the age of 98, is celebrated as the “Mother of American modernism.” Her works, particularly those capturing the dramatic vistas and floral forms of the American Southwest, have become icons of 20th-century art. O’Keeffe lived in Abiquiu, New Mexico, where the surrounding desert landscapes inspired much of her creative output. Her impact continues to resonate in the art world, with discoveries such as this reinforcing her historical significance.
Upcoming Christie's Auction
Christie’s will offer the rediscovered O’Keeffe painting at auction on Tuesday. The significant find has captivated art enthusiasts, collectors, and experts with its remarkable story—from decades in obscurity to a new chapter on the auction block.
Source: abcnews.com.
